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June 17, 2003

The
Beth Din of America,the Rabbinical
Council of America,
and the Orthodox Caucus
Announce the Release of a Revised
Prenuptial Agreement

The Beth Din of America, in conjunction with the
Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) and The Orthodox Caucus today
announced the release of a revised halachic
Prenuptial
Agreement.

The Agreement was issued in its original form about 10 years ago, based
upon authoritative rulings of leading rabbis in both America and Israel,
and has become the preferred method in the observant community of
preventing iggun (delayed divorce proceedings) inflicted by recalcitrant
spouses. Many rabbis have taken policy positions by which they will not
officiate at a marriage unless the couple has signed the Agreement.

Indeed, the Agreement has already proven helpful in numerous instances
in divorce proceedings. As Rabbi Yonah Reiss, Director of the Beth Din
of America puts it, “In a number of divorce proceedings that have come
before our court, when a spouse has produced a signed copy of the
Agreement any potential problems in withholding a Get (religious
divorce) have been avoided.”

The Prenuptial Agreement that is both legally enforceable and
halachically recognized has now been reissued in a revised and
simplified format. Specifically, it clarifies various options available
to the couple regarding jurisdictional matters pertaining to the Beth
Din.

“Furthermore,” explains Rabbi Basil Herring of the Orthodox Caucus,
“when a couple signs the agreement it in no way implies a problem in
their relationship or a lack of good faith, but rather conveys an
awareness by both parties that if all couples were to sign it prior to
marriage, we would go a long way toward the goal of eliminating the
scourge of iggun from our community once and for all.”

The Prenuptial Agreement may be downloaded at no cost from the Caucus
website www.orthodoxcaucus.org,
which also includes extensive additional background information, or from
the home page of the Orthodox Union website,
www.ou.org.

Further questions should be directed to info@orthodoxcaucus.org or to
the Beth Din of America at (212) 807-9042.
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